Tuesday 17 October 2023

MAKASSAR RECOMMENDATIONS TO EMPOWER PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 (Bernama) -- The ASEAN Disability Forum has produced the "Makassar Recommendations" to strengthen commitment to empowering persons with disabilities, realising inclusivity, and elevating the dignity of persons with disabilities.

Indonesia Minister of Social Affairs, Tri Rismaharini said that disability inclusion is an approach, a perspective that needed to become mainstream in all sectors, including education, health, employment, political-security, trade and investment.

“Disability inclusive development requires collaboration and not working separately. The government, private sector and organisations of persons with disabilities must synergise and work together,” said the Minister in a statement.

Produced at the ASEAN High Level Forum on Disability Inclusive Development and Partnership beyond 2025 in Makassar on Oct 10-12, the recommendations were submitted after the participating ASEAN member countries led by Indonesia formulated a draft recommendation.

Attended by around 200 participants, the forum was one of a series of ASEAN Summits under the chairmanship of Indonesia, along with participants from the United States, England, Australia, the ASEAN Secretariat, as well as organisations for persons with disabilities, among others.

The participants jointly formulated innovative strategies to realise socio-regional inclusiveness, empower persons with disabilities, and strengthen partnerships, whereby 10 recommendations were finally produced or called "Makassar Recommendations".

These recommendations were read out by the Commissioner of the National Commission on Disabilities (KND), Eka Pratama before the closing of the forum on Oct 11.

Among the recommendations are accelerating the implementation of the ASEAN Enabling Masterplan 2025 by mainstreaming the rights of persons with disabilities in ASEAN cooperation; and further support the review and report on the implementation of the ASEAN Enabling Masterplan 2025 by including the participation of persons with disabilities.

The third recommendation is ensuring disability inclusive development as a fundamental part of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, while the fourth is encouraging ASEAN Dialogue Partners to mainstream empowerment and rights of persons with disabilities through collaboration with ASEAN, including in providing disability inclusive infrastructure.

Other recommendations include provide more innovative social welfare and development policies to empower and protect the rights of persons with disabilities, and strengthen efforts to provide better and more inclusive disability data.

-- BERNAMA

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